Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), met in Kano on Thursday for what aides described as a cordial and productive discussion.
The meeting took place during Obasanjo’s official visit to the state and comes at a time political consultations are beginning to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
Saifullahi Hassan, media aide to Kwankwaso, disclosed details of the visit in a post on Friday, noting that the former Kano governor was accompanied by Aminu Gwarzo, the NDC governorship candidate in Kano and a former deputy governor of the state.
According to Hassan, the visit provided an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on national issues in a relaxed atmosphere.
“His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NDC, paid a courtesy visit to elder statesman and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his temporary residence in Kano,” Hassan wrote.
“Former President Obasanjo is in Kano on an official assignment, and the visit allowed for warm interactions and constructive discussions.”
Although details of the talks were not made public, the meeting is likely to fuel political speculation given Obasanjo’s long-standing interest in national politics and his relationship with key opposition figures.
Obasanjo has remained one of the most influential voices in Nigeria’s political landscape and is known to maintain close ties with Peter Obi, the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The former president publicly backed Obi ahead of the 2023 presidential poll, arguing that he possessed qualities that distinguished him from other contenders, including Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.
At the time, Obasanjo described Obi as a unifying figure with support that cut across regional and political divides.
Despite the endorsement, Obi finished third in the 2023 election, behind Atiku and eventual winner Bola Tinubu.
Thursday’s meeting in Kano adds another layer to ongoing political conversations within opposition circles as preparations for the next election cycle gradually take shape.
